Future franchise changes
We were fully involved in supporting the process for letting the new Metro operating concession in Newcastle to DB Regio Tyne and Wear Ltd from 1 April 2010.
See more information on the Department for Transport’s plans for refranchising.
Franchise changes in 2009
National Express East Coast handed over control of the Intercity East Coast services to the East Coast Mainline Company Limited on 13 November 2009. ECML is a subsidiary of Directly Operated Railways. Directly Operated Railways is a company owned by the Department for Transport.
The new South Central franchise was awarded to Govia and started on 20 September 2009.
Franchise change in 2008
The Gatwick Express franchise was merged into the South Central franchise, which is operated by Govia under the name Southern.
Franchises let in 2007
- South West Trains, operated by Stagecoach South Western Trains
- New Cross Country, consisting of services previously operated by Virgin Cross Country and Central Trains. Now operated by Arriva under the name CrossCountry
- East Midlands, consisting of services previously operated by Midland Mainline and Central Trains. Now operated by Stagecoach under the name East Midlands Trains
- West Midlands, consisting of services previously operated by Central Trains and Silverlink County. Now operated by Govia under the name London Midland
- The London Rail Concession (for which Transport for London is responsible rather than the Department for Transport), consisting of services previously operated by Silverlink Metro, is operated by a consortium of MTR and Deutsche Bahn under the name London Overground
- The InterCity East Coast franchise was let to National Express East Coast
New open access operators in development
Alliance Rail
Devon and Cornwall Railways
Europorte
GO-OP!
Glasgow Trains
On Route Logistics
Rutland Rail